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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

1998 seems like a hundred years ago. I was in my early 30s and
working in radio when the story of the Monica Lewinsky affair with Bill Clinton
broke. We never saw the likes of it before. It was the start of a cultural
change and the start of cyber-bullying and online harassment.

She was a 22 year old intern who fell in love with her
handsome, powerful and charismatic boss, The President of the United States.
Her naïve outlook on love had devastating consequences for her.

22 years old! My God, my son is 20. I live in fear of one of
my children becoming the victim of online shaming.

I can only imagine what her parents went through. In the Ted
Talk she reveals her mother made her shower with the door open to make sure she
did not kill herself. There are almost 40 Rap songs that reference her affair
with Clinton. Few actually mention Clinton.

When people hear the name “Monica Lewinsky” they will always
think “Blow job.” When they hear the name “Bill Clinton” they will always think
President of the United States. How fair is that?

She will always wear the Scarlet Letter and her name will be
followed by: slut, whore, bimbo, tart or “That woman.”

He will always be “Mr. President.”

She was 22. He took advantage of her.

She refers to herself as “Patient Zero” of cyberbullying. In
1998 when the story broke, it was the first time a major news story played out
online as well as the traditional news media. The internet became a mob of stone
throwers as the Monica Lewinsky story reverberated around the world.

At 22 she became a global whore. Billed as the first woman
to have sex with her boss. He was still “Mr. President.” Wait! Oh that’s right
“He did not have sex with that woman!”

That woman! At 22 she became that woman.

At 22 she began to live a life of public, worldwide
humiliation. Her life stopped. The possibilities that her future held, ended.
At 22 she no longer had a future because she had sex with her boss.

What frustrates me the most is that I took part in it. You
did too. We all told the Monica Lewinsky jokes. We listened to them. We still
think “Blow job” instead of “victim” when we hear her name. Over time, we
became numb to these jokes because she wasn’t a real person to us. We didn’t
think about a 22 year old on suicide watch. We didn’t think about her mother
crying every night and her father’s helplessness as he watched his little
girl’s life destroyed over a blow job. We could recognize her face because we
saw it every day on the internet or in the media. We didn’t know she had a
soul. We didn’t think about her feelings. We didn’t have empathy or sympathy
for her.

We almost humiliated this girl to death.

Eighteen years later public shaming has become an industry.
Celebrities and reality stars traffic in it. But she was different. She didn’t
release a sex tape. She didn’t want to be famous for a sex act.

She was 22. I fill up just thinking about her and what she
went through.

Hillary Clinton wants to be President now. I cannot find
anything on line that says that she met with Monica Lewinsky and forgave her
for her role in the affair.

Should she? Should the wife forgive the mistress? I
think it depends. How long is she going to continue to nail this poor girl to
the Cross?

Bill Clinton has never apologized to her. He took advantage
of a 22 year girl. He abused his power. He was President. To put it in
perspective four years earlier Monica was in high school.

At 22 I made mistakes. Lots of them. That’s what 22 years
old do. They make mistakes and they learn from them.

She didn’t commit a crime. She fell in love… at 22 with a
handsome, powerful, charismatic man. Her boss.

I apologize.

I am sorry Monica for reading those jokes, repeating them
and sharing them. I had no idea you were a real person. I got caught up in a
public, slut shaming mob and I didn’t know we almost drove you to your death.

Monica is now an advocate for people who are victims of
cyber-bullying and on line harassment. Who better than her?

She is no longer a “victim” but a “survivor.”

How do we change it?

In her Ted Talk, Monica says stop reading online shaming and
humiliation. Every time you click on an online shaming story about the
Kardashians, the provider of that content makes money. The more clicks, the
more money. Shame is now an industry and a big one.

She says “Public shaming as a blood sport has to stop” and
she is right.

We all need to build a circle of protection around this
lady. She has suffered enough. The next time I hear Monica Lewinsky’s name said
in a derogatory way I will respond with “Did you know she was only 22? Did you know
she was victim? Did you know she is human?”

I will not click on public shaming stories about celebrities
or participate in internet mobs that destroy lives. Ask yourself “What if this
was my daughter? How would I feel?”

I am Funny Like That

Helen C. Escott retired from the world renowned Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 2014 as the Senior Communications Strategist for Newfoundland and Labrador. Before joining the RCMP she worked in the media for 13 years (OZ FM/ VOCM/ CJYQ) in various positions including reporter, on-air personality, marketing and promotions.

In Retirement, Escott writes a blog called “I am Funny Like That” and has over 123,000 readers worldwide. Now this hysterical blog has come to life a witty book! It ranked on Amazon’s bestsellers list as #6 in Kindle Store and #20 in Books.

Escott has a unique perspective on life and a funny way of looking at it. From wearing granny panties to Brazilians to capturing the essence of a moment in a person’s life. Escott will make you laugh out loud and feel better about yourself. She is the best friend you have always wanted and the life of the party. You will be glad you invited her into your life.

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